Latest news with #SuyaJoint
Boston Globe
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
More than two dozen R.I. businesses vow to block ICE from stores, restaurants without warrants, advocates say
'There's no warrant, no detention — not on our watch,' Jair Perez, a coalition member and an organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, told reporters at a press conference in Providence on Friday morning. 'That is the basis of the pledge. ICE cannot break the law and barge into businesses to detain people, so the people will enforce this law.' Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up According to the Advertisement Since February, the coalition, made up of Alliance to Mobilize Our Resistance, the Olneyville Neighborhood Association, and the Party for Socialism & Liberation Rhode Island, has organized community members to help track and respond to local sightings of ICE agents. Related : The public can report incidents to a 'Deportation Defense Line' — 401-675-1414 — staffed by volunteers, who verify reports, and a 'Community Alert Channel' notifies the community once an incident is confirmed so residents can 'protect community members' facing ICE detention, according to Kate Hao, an organizer with the coalition. Advertisement A sign indicating an "Immigrant Defense Zone" is displayed in the window of Frog & Toad on Westminster Street in Providence, R.I. Christopher Gavin/Globe Staff The 'Immigrant Defense Zones,' announced Friday, were an idea that came from a small business owner in Providence's South Side, Perez said. Organizers also highlighted the case of Paul Dama, an employee of the restaurant, Suya Joint — which has locations in Roxbury and Providence — who was Related : 'This first wave of businesses taking the Defense Zone Pledge are primarily located in the Southside of Providence, but all of them, including those located in the Westminster Street area, stand in full solidarity with Suya Joint in demanding the immediate release of Suya Joint manager Paul Dama,' the coalition said in a press release. Perez said the coalition did not have a full list to provide to reporters, as organizers did not inform businesses that a list would be provided to the press. Businesses that are taking part will display a sign that includes the hotline number and that makes clear they are a 'Defense Zone' for immigrants. Among them are Down the Road Movers in Providence, Frog & Toad stores in Providence — which had signs displayed at its two locations on Friday — and Crown Fried Chicken in Providence, where Friday's press conference was held. Related : Trent Manning, owner of Advertisement 'Survival under this system is not just about working hard, pulling yourself up by your bootstraps,' Manning said. 'It's about protecting each other, and that's what the deportation defense is: It's protection, it's resistance, it's love in the form of action.' Manning said his business is 'built on the model of second chance.' 'If I can use my platform … then I will use it any chance that I get,' he said. Trent Manning, owner of Down the Road Movers, speaks to reporters in Providence, R.I., on Friday. Christopher Gavin/Globe Staff Christopher Gavin can be reached at
Boston Globe
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
ICE comes to local restaurants. It was inevitable.
Get Winter Soup Club A six-week series featuring soup recipes and cozy vibes, plus side dishes and toppings, to get us all through the winter. Enter Email Sign Up Jollof rice with chicken and plantains at Suya Joint in Providence. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff Advertisement According to the National Restaurant Association, 22 percent of restaurant and food service employees were born outside of the United States. It was inevitable that Trump's ICE crackdown would affect the restaurant industry. Some of this activity has been visible: In May, for instance, ICE agents raided San Diego restaurant Buona Forchetta, setting off flash-bang grenades and taking multiple workers into custody. Bystanders posted But much of it happens quietly and unrecorded, in a climate of fear that breeds yet more fear, for workers and business owners alike. In late May, ICE conducted Advertisement 'I never ever ever say this, but I think I'm a little worried to comment publicly,' replied one industry veteran. 'I am too opinionated to hold my tongue, and too close to a number of people who might be affected by my fire and brimstone. Clearly this administration is in the comments and the socials and looking for a reason to target anyone or any place. An ICE raid on Nantucket in May. 'It is grim here right now. I can't get over the level of fear and anxiety. Previously, there was a sentiment that ICE was looking for the bad guys, and as long as you kept your nose clean and paid your taxes you'd be OK. Now they are just looking for the Spanish-speakers who are willing to humble themselves and work hard at any task to make a better life for their families.' At the same time, ICE was also at work in and around Boston. 'In one week, I've lost three chefs,' reported one restaurateur, who operates multiple area venues. A fourth employee was also detained. He asked to remain anonymous, concerned about potential retaliation. 'The fear among the chefs is just unreal. Some aren't showing up for work now. They won't get on the T. Two of the guys got picked up on the T. It's all fear. I've never seen anything like this,' he said. Advertisement One of the chefs was a 16-year employee with a 13-year-old child who was born here; she was serving as his translator. He was released on Friday after a month's detention and is now figuring out next steps for his case. Another was deported immediately, after volunteering to return to Colombia. A third was about to move to a different country, where his wife has citizenship — but at the last minute, he discovered his passport had expired and had to postpone his departure. He was picked up while taking his child to school. Two of the employees have now been transferred to Louisiana, where they are awaiting hearings 'in not a very nice facility, and they get out one hour a day,' says the restaurateur. 'There's some sort of flu going around there, so they haven't been out of their cells in five days. It sounds even worse than what I'm telling you.' 'Every single day we hope and pray,' says Suya Joint owner Cecelia Lizotte, whose brother is in ICE detention. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff As for Dama, according to an ICE database, he is currently detained at the Strafford County Department of Corrections facility in Dover, N.H. He came to this country from Nigeria in 2019, fleeing after he was kidnapped by the terrorist group Boko Haram. His family paid a ransom to secure his release. 'Going back to Nigeria is not safe. This feels like the kidnapping all over again. He was picked up right in front of his house,' Lizotte says. The family has launched a But this is America, now. Hours before casting his Minutiae . Has there ever been a more chilling word?) Advertisement Dama, who applied for asylum when he arrived, has been told that because his case is still pending, he is out of status, according to Lizotte. At a hearing on June 26, the judge told him he would need to start his asylum application all over again, she says. He has a bond hearing scheduled for July 3, to determine whether he can be released. Until then, the family waits, hoping he isn't transferred in the meantime. 'Every single day we hope and pray,' Lizotte says. 'What he sees is at 2 a.m., 3 a.m., 4 a.m., in the middle of night, other people are being transferred. They are not given the chance to make phone calls to family members.' The restaurant that made Lizotte a 'There are a lot of people where he is that don't have the support, they don't have any voice outside,' Lizotte says. Telling these stories where and how we can shines light on what is happening in American restaurants right now. Advertisement Devra First can be reached at
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Yahoo
Renowned Boston restaurant considers closing after manager is detained by ICE
The family behind a celebrated West African restaurant in Boston is considering shuttering the eatery as they continue to deal with the detainment of their restaurant manager by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Paul Dama — who works at Suya Joint restaurant in both Roxbury and Providence — was arrested by ICE on his way to church, his family member, Vanessa Lizotte, wrote on a GoFundMe campaign page that's raising money to help pay for his legal fees. Dama, 46, 'has not been given a clear explanation for his detention' and does not know what charges he is facing, according to a pop-up message on the restaurant's website. ICE did not respond to a request for comment on his case Thursday afternoon, but its detainment records show that he is being held at the Strafford County jail in New Hampshire, which contracts with ICE to hold detainees. 'This sudden and painful event has shaken our family to the core, and we are currently navigating both emotional and legal challenges surrounding his detention,' Lizotte wrote. 'Because of this, we are taking time to reflect and reassess what comes next for Suya Joint. While we are not closing at this time, we are seriously considering what's best for our team, our mission, and our family.' Dama's sister, Cecelia Lizotte, is the genius behind Suya Joint, The Boston Globe reported. Born and raised in Nigeria, she opened the first iteration of the restaurant in 2012 in Roslindale and has worked as both its owner and head chef ever since. Suya Joint, whose cuisine and culture were inspired by Lizotte's grandmother's restaurant in Nigeria, relocated to Roxbury four years later and opened a second location in Providence last year, the Globe reported. The restaurant has seen significant success in the more than a dozen years it's been in business. Last year, Lizotte was nominated for the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Northeast category. This year, Suya Joint won Boston Magazine's Best Neighborhood Restaurant for Roxbury and was one of the few dozen restaurants to make Eater's list of best Boston restaurants. Dama immigrated to the U.S. to be with his sister and her family in 2019, the Globe reported. He is normally responsible for overseeing operations at the restaurant's Nubian Square location. 'Paul has been a vital part of the restaurant, serving in both Boston and Providence whenever and wherever he is needed. His work ethic, calm nature, and strong moral compass help define the culture of our business,' Vanessa Lizotte wrote on the campaign page. Dama previously applied for asylum in the U.S., and his case is still making its way through the court system, his sister told the Globe. He has legal authorization to work in the country, she said. Despite this, ICE officers pulled Dama over as he drove to church in Brockton on Father's Day and ultimately arrested him, his sister told the Globe. He had his first hearing in front of an immigration judge Thursday morning, and his lawyer instructed him to reapply for asylum before his next court date on July 3, Vanessa Lizotte wrote on the campaign page. 'The trauma of this separation is unbearable. Paul is experiencing deep emotional distress in detention, and our Suya Joint family is suffering beyond words,' the message on Suya Joint's website reads. 'As a tight-knit team and family business, we've always leaned on each other through every challenge. Now, being forced apart like this is tearing through the heart of our home and community.' In addition to working at Suya Joint, Dama was also employed at a local care home, the Globe reported. His job there entailed attending to five men with developmental disabilities. 'Paul treats the men he serves with full respect and dignity,' his supervisor at the home, Catherine Conrade, wrote in a testimonial for the campaign page. 'He offers patience and kindness when he needs to assist in personal care and activities of daily living, but he also engages the men around their preferences in all aspects of life and is instrumental in ensuring their participation in the social/recreational activities of their choosing.' Dama is college educated, fluent in English and is active in his local Catholic church, his brother-in-law, Jeffery Lizotte, wrote in another testimonial. Lizotte described his brother-in-law as being 'proud to be a contributing member' of society and someone who 'has done his proper due diligence in the process of trying to become a U.S. citizen.' 'He tries his best every day to build a better future for himself and is a positive influence on everyone he knows,' Lizotte wrote of Dama. 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Boston Globe
26-06-2025
- Boston Globe
Celebrated Roxbury restaurant may close after manager detained by ICE on Father's Day
Now, Lizotte said she's thinking about closing the restaurant, at least temporarily, while she deals with her brother's immigration case. 'I'm running back and forth, trying to get the information that the [immigration] attorneys need, and then my establishment also needs me,' she said. 'So I'm on the verge of either feeling defeated on a daily basis or just breaking down. ... It's a lot for one person to navigate.' Dama, 46, is being held in Dover, N.H., according to a public ICE database. Lizotte said a bond hearing scheduled for July 3 will determine whether he can walk free. His lawyer could not be reached for comment. Advertisement A 'This sudden and painful event has shaken our family to the core, and we are currently navigating both emotional and legal challenges surrounding his detention,' the post reads. 'Because of this, we are taking time to reflect and reassess what comes next for Suya Joint.' Advertisement 'While we are not closing at this time, we are seriously considering what's best for our team, our mission, and our family,' it continued. Lizotte, who emigrated from Nigeria in 1999, inspired by an establishment run by Lizotte's grandmother, in her native village of Qua'an Pan. The restaurant has been recognized as Suya Joint Chef Cecelia Lizotte opened her second Suya Joint location in downtown Providence, focusing on Nigerian spices, stews, and fufu. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff Dama immigrated to the United States from Nigeria in 2019 to join his sister and her family. He has an ongoing asylum case and has authorization to work legally in the country, his sister said. Aside from working as a manager, Dama also helps out in the kitchen. 'He's a jack of all trades,' Lizotte said. 'When Paul walks in to the establishment, if a printer is broken, he fixes it. 'Oh, the sink is not going down.' He finds a way to fix it.' Dama is also trained as a social worker. Alongside his duties at the restaurant, he most recently worked at a care home, attending to five elderly men with developmental disabilities. 'He's kind, intelligent, hard working, one of our best employees,' said Cathy Conrade, a social worker who worked with Dama until earlier this year. 'I've been around so long, I've met lots of wonderful people, but he really stands out as one of the one of the best.' Advertisement Conrade said Dama and many immigrants like him come from highly qualified professional backgrounds, but settle for work in the US that is seen as menial and unglamorous. Chef Cecelia Lizotte opened her second Suya Joint location in downtown Providence. The original Suya Joint is in Nubian Square. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff 'They'll take roles that, quite frankly, in our country, are devalued,' she said. 'Dealing with human beings has not become an elevated position yet. So they will take work that other people won't do, and do it well, and do three jobs all at the same time.' Agnes Hodge, of Dorchester, described Dama as her adopted son. Hodge, 84, said in a phone interview she knew him from their time living in Nigeria. Dama acted as a caregiver for her in the US, helping Hodge buy groceries and other items — until he was abruptly detained. Since then, she hasn't been eating or sleeping — partly out of concern, and partly out of necessity, she said. 'Nobody else has come by,' Hodge said. 'My life is on hold.' Lizotte said the news of her brother's detention was 'really devastating' for the rest of the close-knit family. 'My daughter works at Shaw's, and it's almost like each time she has a five minute break, she'd call me in tears,' she said. 'And I have to find a way to just be like, 'Please be strong. I know you're at work. I'm so sorry that I gave this type of news to you. But wipe your tears and pray and be hopeful.'' Lizotte said her brother is scared because of the conditions, adding that several migrants in the same facility have been held there for months. Advertisement Dama faced two separate charges of operating under the influence last year, according to court records. On both instances, he was allegedly found asleep in his car, which was stopped on a public road with the engine running. The charges were disposed after Dama paid $1,200 in fines, had his license temporarily suspended, and was placed on year-long probation through December 2025, per court records. Despite his legal issues, several friends and family members submitted letters to support his immigration case. Jeffrey Lizotte, Cecelia's husband, said in a letter that Dama had been kidnapped and held for ransom in Nigeria before coming to the US. He added that his brother-in-law is college-educated, a practicing Catholic, and a fluent English speaker, whose moral character is 'beyond reproach.' Dama's misdemeanor offenses, he added, do 'not merit detainment and deportation, in my view.' 'I fully understand the need to keep our borders secure from those who wish to harm our people or destroy our culture,' he wrote. 'But I can tell you in all sincerity that is not who Paul is. He is a good person who always puts the needs of others first. He does not deserve to be going through this harrowing experience.' Massachusetts State Senator Liz Miranda, a Boston Democrat who represents Roxbury, also wrote a letter of support for Dama, as did Rhode Island State Representative David Morales, who described Dama as an 'exemplary individual' who has 'built a life for himself and his family.' 'Even with all the challenges he's had to face, he's continued being a positive member of our community,' Morales wrote. 'Paul poses no threat to our community, and I'm concerned that he is currently detained at a detention facility in New Hampshire as if he does.' Advertisement Jeremiah Manion of the Globe Staff contributed reporting. Camilo Fonseca can be reached at
Eater
24-06-2025
- Eater
Acclaimed West African Restaurant Considers Closing After Manager Detained by ICE
An award-winning West African restaurant in Roxbury is on the brink of closing after a visit from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over the weekend scooped up an essential employee — and a family member of the owner. Restaurant manager Paul Dama of Suya Joint — the brother of chef and owner Cecelia Lizotte — was detained by ICE on Sunday, June 15. The county has no criminal charges on file for Dama because he is being detained by national immigration authorities, according to an officer at the Stafford County Department of Corrections, in Dover, New Hampshire, where he's being held in jail. Lizotte, who immigrated to the U.S. in 1999 and is a legal citizen, says that her brother joined her in 2019. She told Eater that Dama has applied for asylum and the case is pending. He has not been approved or denied. The family has not been given an explanation for his detention, and is not aware of any official charges against him, according to Lizotte. Dama's family has worked to find him legal representation in the state of New Hampshire, which Lizotte says was difficult because immigration lawyers have many current cases. A hearing is currently set for Thursday, June 26. Dama can call his family daily, and told his sister that he is 'shaking and scared' because he said other detainees have been transferred at night, and he is not sure where they are being taken. The ordeal has forced Lizotte to consider closing the restaurants (possibly temporarily, Lizotte says) to focus on getting Dama back home, but her staff is encouraging her to keep going. 'What am I working for, you know?' she says. But 'the tears just keep coming when I talk about it because, no, I do not want to close.' It's also 'extremely scary' to be running a restaurant right now, Lizotte says. 'Like, could I be the next person?' The West African restaurant has been a mainstay in Roxbury since 2016, nabbing local honors along the way, including a spot on Eater Boston's 38 essential restaurants and a Best of Boston award from Boston Magazine three years in a row. A Providence location opened in early 2025. The Nubian Square restaurant is known for its jollof rice, a one-pot rice dish prepared with a savory pepper sauce; tender beef suya, a spicy beef skewer popular throughout West Africa for which the restaurant is named after; and egusi, a staple stew made with ground pumpkin seeds, spinach, chicken, and fish. The restaurant is currently donating 20 percent of all jollof rice sales directly toward Dama's legal expenses. The restaurant has posted a GoFundMe to raise money for legal fees and to help Dama's family make ends meet while he is detained. The Trump administration has taken an unyielding stance on immigration since coming into power, wreaking havoc on restaurants across the country. Fears of ICE raids have closed markets in Las Vegas, and massive crackdowns have hit restaurants in Washington, DC. CBS News reported earlier this year that local restaurants in East Boston have seen a drop in immigrant customers due to increased concerns about ICE raids. Immigrants of all statuses make up the backbone of the food service industry, and ICE agents are conducting raids on many businesses. Eater has compiled a guide to dealing with them if they come to your restaurant. See More:
